Apparatus for distilling hydrocarbons.



G. F. BENHOFF, JR. & J. O. JENSEN.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 4. 1915- Patented May 2, 1916. 2 SHEETSSHEET1 fuj/ WW4 G. F. BENHOFF, JR.& J. O. JENSEN. 1 APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROCARBONS.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1915. 11 11564.- I v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WMQ M Patented May 2, 1916.

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GEORGE F. BENI-IOFF, J R., AND JENS JENSEN OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN- ORS TO PRUDENTIAL OIL CORPORATION, A CORPORATION. OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROCARBONS.

Patented Ma 2, rate.

Application filed March 4, 1915. Serial No. 12,199.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that we, GEORGE F. BENHOFF,

I J12, a citizen of the United States, and Jnxs through said tubes.

0. JENSEN. a subject of the King of Denmark, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Distilling Hydrocarbons, of which the following is a specification.

In dated May 16, 1882, there is shown and described an apparatus for the distillation of hydrocarbons, comprising an upright cylinder divided into a series of horizontal compartments which collect different grades of hydrocarbon, which compartments are connected to suitable pipes provided with. valves, whereby said difierent "grades of hydrocarbon may be conducted to the receiving house or back to the still at will.

()ur present invention is an improvement upon the apparatus of said patent, whereby we cheapen the cost of making the same and also obtain greater cooling efiiciency in the condenser column.

The invention consists in the construction of the condenser column, as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is, an elevation of our apparatus, showing the condenser column and also the worm tank in vertical section. Fig. 2. is an enlarged cross section on the line 00, w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the parts between the vertical tubes C and the top of the tank 0.

Similar letters and numbers of reference indicate like parts.

Our condenser column is formed of a plurality of groups of vertical tubes, shown at A, B, C, and a series of annular drums D, E, F, G, disposed one above the other and constructed to form traps for the condensate at dilferent heights on the condenser, in which said condensate accumulates and is drawn 01f, as hereinafter described. The

tubes of lowest group A communicate with the head of drum D and extend upward through the bottom of drum E for a sufficient distance to trap liquidin drum E and prevent the same running down to drum D In like manner, the

' .tubes of group B are interposed between and connected to drums E, F, and the tubes of group C in like manner are interposed between and connected to drums F, G. The tubes of groups B, C may be inclosed in sheet metal shells I-I, so that the cooling air after passing in between the tubes of group A and becoming heated may rise through the central openings in the drums and finally escape at a chimney K formed by upwardly extending the inner wall of drum 1 G. The tubes which maybe present in any I S. Patent to McGowan No. 257,961,

water, and thence to the usual delivery receptacle or receptacles-not shownthe ends of the pipes being here represented as broken off in the tank. In said pipes respectively are valves 4, 5, 6. A return pipe 7 connected to union L leads back to the still P. The pipe 8 connected to union M is connected to pipe 7. The pipe 9 connected to union N is also connected to pipe 7 In pipes 8 and 9 are valves 10 and 1 1. A drain pipe 12 is connected to pipe 7 and provided with a valve 13. In pipe 7' between pipe 12 and pipe 8 is a valve 14.

The still P is of usual construction and provided with a. fire-box Q below it and with means for forcing air into the hydrocarbon to be distilled, said means here being any suitable air or gas pump R connected to a perforated pipe S which enters the top of said still and extends into the liquid therein. The still is connected by the vapor pipe 15 to drum D. To the top drum G is connected a pipe 16 which is always open and which leads to and through the worm tank 0 to delivery. It will be obvious that by suitably manipulating the valves 4, 5, 6 on the do livery side of the condenser column and 14:, 10 and '11 on the return side, valve 13 being closed, we can cause the condensate received in either or all of the drums to passthrough the worm tank 0 to delivery or to return to or all the condensates produced.

carry int effect any operation depending upon variations in return or delivery of any Thus if all the valves 4, 5, 6, l3, 14, 10 and 11 are closed, the vapor will rise through the tubes and drums and finally escape at pipe 16, the condensate accumulating in said drums. If it be desired to send any one of these condensates to delivery, the appropriate valve l, 5 or 6 is opened, the corresponding valve on the return side being closed: if all of them, all the valves 4, 5, 6 are opened and the valves 14, 10, 11 are closed. Similarly if it be desired to return any one or all-of saidcondensates to the still, one or, more of valves 14, 10, 11 are opened, the corresponding valve or valves on the delivery side hei g closed. ,When it is desired-todrain the c ondensenthe valve 13 in pipe 12 is opened and allthe other valves are closed.

We claimz P Y l. An apparatus for distilling hydrocar- -hons, comprising a condenser column consistingof a-plurality of vertical tubes, devices fol-collecting condensate formed in said tubes disposed at different heights in saidico-lumn, said deviceshaving outlets, a

- stillppipes connected to each of. saidoutlets and communicating respectively with deliveryand with said still. and valves in said pipes. 1 1 a 2. An apparatus for distilling hydrocarbons, comprising a condenser column consisting of a plurality of groups of tubes,

said groups being disposed vertically one above the other, a still, means for delivering vapor from said still to the bottom of the lowest group of tubes, means for drawing on said vapor from the uppermost group of tubes, trapping devices interposed between said groups of tubes for trapping condensate formed in said tubes, outlet pipes connected respectively to each of said trapping devices, pipes connected to said outlet pipes and leading respectively to delivery and to said still. and valves in saidlastnamed pipes.

3. An apparatus for distilling hydrocarbons, comprising a condenser column consisting of a plurality of groups of tubes,

said groups being disposed one above the other and having air spaces between them, annular drums. communicating With said groups, of tubes andinterposed between the same and above the uppermost group, and means communicating with eachfldrum for drawing ofl? condensate received thereinz the central spaces in s aid drums and tl'le ilii spaces between said tubes forming acontinuous "passage for air for cooling said tubes and drums."

In testimony whereof We have aflixed our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE JENS O. JENSEN. Witnesses: GERTRUDE T. PORTER,

1 MAY T. MCGAIERY.

F. BENHOFF, JR; 

